Words by CeeCee
Pix by Rob Cuzens
The night kicked off with ANA, a vibrant five-piece band from Melbourne, who set the tone with a brief but captivating cover of Gangsta’s Paradise. Their sound immediately evokes a nostalgic 80s/90s vibe, blending classic influences with a modern twist. Lead singer Anna mesmerises with expressive body movements that perfectly complement each track. The band’s playful side shines through as they seamlessly weave a snippet of Barbie Girl into their song Sirens and turn on a bubble machine during Ouroboros, adding a whimsical touch to their set. ANA effortlessly combines nostalgia with innovation, making their performance both engaging and memorable.
Fall and Resist opened their set with a heartfelt tribute to the Traditional Owners of the land, the Kulin Nation—a thoughtful and respectful gesture. As they launched into their second song, Transient Forgiveness, the energy in the room began to build, and the crowd really started to engage.
The band’s playful side was on full display, cracking jokes about the audience’s age before diving into their third track, As It All Starts to Fray. Lead singer Liam quipped that the crowd seemed a bit energetic—his remark was met with silence at first, so he doubled down, encouraging everyone to jump around “like you’re on a trampoline.” When someone in the crowd called out, “We’re old,” he laughed and replied, “If you’re over 40, just move your shoulders. If you’re under, you have no excuse!” The banter had everyone laughing, adding to the band’s charismatic stage presence.
A standout moment came during Moments of Clarity when Liam sang through an empty paper roll, creating a raw, raspy vocal effect that added a unique texture to the performance. The set ended on a high note with an impromptu encore—the crowd eagerly requested one more song, and the band delivered with Nothing But Pain, letting the audience pick the final track.
FRANKENBOK stormed the stage with Monk Discipline, kicking off their set in a haze of fog and bubbles. Their high-energy performance featured every track from their newly released EP, IRREPRESSIBLE, which dropped on January 31, 2025. Between songs, the band’s signature humour shone through, joking about how their generation was raised on South Park and Family Guy, only to become, in their words, “a bunch of watered-down cunts.” This banter led perfectly into their track iWOKE, followed by the tongue-in-cheek remark that “you shouldn’t give drunken people a microphone.”
Just when it seemed the set was wrapping up, the crowd demanded one more song. The band playfully compared the audience to a one-night stand on Tinder that just wouldn’t take the hint. But instead of leaving them hanging, they turned the moment into a celebration, giving a heartfelt 50th birthday shoutout to Azza—who’s been with FRANKENBOK since their start in 1997. Despite joking about how much he’d hate it, the crowd broke into Happy Birthday before the band launched into a killer cover of You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)—a perfect, unexpected closer that had the audience grooving till the very end.
Bringing a shift to a more melodic and atmospheric sound, The Eternal took the stage, immediately captivating the audience with their ethereal vocals and immersive instrumentation. This half-Australian, half-Finnish band delivered a mesmerizing set, performing tracks from their latest album, Skinwalker, including Skinwalker, Under the Black, and When the Fire Dies. Their haunting melodies and dynamic presence had the crowd completely entranced.
Despite being a fill-in on bass, Tom fit in seamlessly, moving in sync with vocalist Mark—from hand gestures to dramatic guitar raises, adding a visual intensity to their performance. The chemistry between the band members was evident, making their set feel both polished and organic. Before their final two songs, Mark playfully quipped, Praise Satan, though his tone made it clear it was all in good fun. They closed with Deathlike Silence, delivering a powerful and atmospheric finale that left the audience spellbound.
After a long hiatus, DREADNAUGHT returned to the stage as if they had never left, delivering a powerhouse performance that proved they hadn’t missed a step. Vocalist Greg acknowledged the crowd’s enthusiasm, saying, “Thank you for missing us,” before launching into a set filled with both new and classic tracks.
Performing songs from their latest album, Shutdown in a Heartbeat, released on January 6, 2025, the band tore through More Money Than Sympathy, Gradual Rotting of the Soul, and the title track Shutdown in a Heartbeat, each song hitting with unrelenting energy. Before Wretched Ways, Greg shared that the song was about having an addictive personality, playfully adding, “I’m pretty sure most of us do.” It was during this track that the mosh pit finally erupted, bringing another level of chaos to the already electrifying set.
Taking a moment to thank the other bands on the line-up, Greg also gave another shoutout to the night’s birthday celebration for Azza’s 50th, before diving into fan-favourite classics like Agony/Ecstasy and Dead in the Dirt. Just when it seemed like they were wrapping up with Deathcamp Disneyland, the crowd’s energy surged, becoming so intense that security had to step in. But that didn’t signal the end—the audience wasn’t ready to let go, chanting for one more song. Giving in to the demand, DREADNAUGHT delivered a final encore that sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy.
What a wild night—five bands, each with their own distinct sound, yet seamlessly connected by their shared energy and passion. The crowd was a mix of dedicated fans who knew every lyric and newcomers discovering fresh favourites for the first time, creating an electric atmosphere from start to finish.
A huge thank you to Black-Roos Entertainment and The Northcote Social Club for bringing it all together and delivering such an unforgettable show!
